TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Families can now apply through the Cherokee Nation for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which helps families buy nutritious meals for their children during the summer months when school is out.
Summer EBT, also known as “Sun Bucks,” is offered through Cherokee Nation Public Health’s Nutrition Programs. Services are available for eligible Cherokee and non-Native students within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
“No children should go hungry over the summer months and I’m so proud many of our tribal nations have continued to step up each summer to help with food security for our most vulnerable to offer resources,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “For a minimal administrative cost, this program will also contribute around $5 million into our local economy for grocery retailers, so it’s a valuable program all the way around.”
Cherokee Nation expects to serve an estimated 45,000 children this summer, serving all eligible applicants who are on free or reduced-price lunches, whether they are Cherokee citizens or non-Cherokee citizens across its 7,000-mile reservation.
Qualifying families will receive $120 of food benefits per child issued on one benefit issuance on an EBT card, which works like a debit card.
Participation in this program will have no impact on other government assistance that participants may receive.
Eligibility for this program is based on free or reduced school meals and the Food Distribution program on Indian Reservations data list. Households that are on a direct certification list from these sources will automatically be issued a card for Summer EBT. Students who attend a participating school do not need to apply.
Parents of eligible students who attend a non-participating school may apply at https://cherokee.oksebt.org/.
The only low-income children in the United States who qualify but do not receive Summer EBT are those living in states that decline to participate. Oklahoma has declined to participate for a third consecutive year. Low-income Oklahoma children, tribal citizens and non-tribal citizens, who qualify for Summer EBT only receive assistance because they live within the boundaries of a participating tribal reservation, such as the Cherokee Nation Reservation. Federal law prohibits tribes from administering the Summer EBT program outside of their boundaries.
“Oklahoma’s choice to decline participation in Summer EBT makes no sense, particularly with grocery inflation higher this year than last year,” said Chief Hoskin. “Oklahomans, and citizens in the dozen or so other non-participating states, should encourage their state leaders to rethink locking low-income families out of Summer EBT. Until then, we will keep doing our part for as many hungry kids as possible.”
The online Summer EBT application can be found at https://cherokee.oksebt.org/ or a paper application can be found at https://www.cherokeepublichealth.org/Tiles/SummerEBT.
The deadline to apply is August 12. For more information on the program, visit https://www.cherokeepublichealth.org/Tiles/SummerEbt.
For questions, email
At-large Cherokee citizens should visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sunbucks to find out if Summer EBT is administered by a state or tribal government in their community.